“Bee,everyonestill pairs walnuts and chocolates!” Nola yelled.
“Well, so I’ve noticed!” I yelled back.
However we both snapped back to the kitchen island when we heard sniffles. Olive was still at the counter, apron on, clutching tight to the ladle dripping in chocolate. The tip of her nose was red as her big eyes watered and tears threatened to spill from her lashes.
I rushed over as if she was my own to take care of.
“Hey, hey. IpromiseI’m alright.”
“But your vo—”
“Yes, yes, I know.” My voice was deeper and crinkling. Like I was a smoker who hadn’t gone a day without a cigarette. “I’m going to go upstairs and I’m going to take some allergy meds. It works all the time I promise.”
“You promise?”
“Yes! I don’t have an epipen because my allergy isn’t bad. I was being a silly adult and not a serious one like your sister.” I winked, hoping to get a smile on the little Young’s face.
The right side of her mouth cracked with a lopsided smile.Yes.
“Now, please enjoy your delicious dessert while I run upstairs. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Maybe your sister will let us watch that reality show of hers when I’m back.”
I could barely shut the door to my bedroom before Nola slipped inside, her panicked face an easy tell, her forehead practically touching her hairline.
“Bee,” she whispered, significantly more gentle with me than she had been downstairs.
“I literally have this under control!” I replied.
“Why didn’t you tell me you’re allergic?”
“To make sure you didn’t try to slowly poison and kill me whilst making it look like an accident,” I admitted with a straight face.
“You watch too much investigative television.”
“Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready,” I mumbled as I stepped into my attached bathroom to look under the cabinet. “Celeste had a scary phase when she was eight. Very much child possessed, and not in the cute way. Too many scary movies, too many threats.”
I was trying to be very normal at the fact that Nola was in my bedroom. Yes, we’d been getting more comfortable, confessing deep feelings and walking down memory lane, but we also hadn’t talked about what that talkingmeant.
The last time Nola was in my room, we were talking about never touching each other again in the name of work. Then we;d kissed each other like we both meant it. Like we could do it in public, in front of our families and friends. Maybe we could have that convo after I proved I wouldn’t die.
I found my dwindling stash of allergy pills and dumped two in my hand. “Fuck these are drowsy, I’m all out of daytime.” My voice was completely raspy and gross. The sound made Nola stop the pacing across my room I was trying to ignore.
“Well, does it really matter when you sound like…” She waved her hand at me.
“The sexiest grandma alive?” I finished for her.
“Brittney, please just take them.” I stared at my former arch nemesis, who looked at me with real concern. If I didn’t take this drowsy allergy pill, she’d shove it down my throat herself.
Her concern was probably because her sister was here, and what child wanted to know she’d sent an adult to the hospital over a walnut. But I was still thrown that Nola cared about my wellbeing right now.
“Please,” she pleaded as we stared at each other.
“But I won’t be able to watch tv with you guys.” I gave a weak but very real middle child excuse. My scratchy throat grated my ears.
Nola rolled her eyes “We’ll resume tomorrow.”
